Help needed to finance and run Kilrush festival

Organisers of this July’s Kilrush Family Festival Feile Sona have appealed to local people and the business community to help out and support the summer event.
The three-day festival will run from Friday, July 1, until Sunday, July 3. It was held last year after a lapse of several years. A meeting will be held next Monday night in The Haven Arms to look at fundraising and organisational elements relating to the festival.
“The festival was revived to give people in Kilrush something to look forward to. It belongs to the people of Kilrush and it is their support that will make it a success,” one of the festival organisers, Ian Lynch, said.
However, he predicted financing the festival might prove tricky.
“While the organisers commenced preparations well in advance this year, by holding the St Patrick’s Day world record attempt and fun run, Easter egg hunt and an upcoming poker classic on May 20, financing the festival this year will be a difficult task as everyone feels the pinch of difficult times,” he said. Organisers are hopeful the business sector and people in Kilrush will back the festival as they fundraise for it in the coming weeks.
“Anything is achievable even in times like these where everyone is struggling financially. If we show our true community spirit and pull together as a town we can achieve so much. We are looking towards the business people to show their support for this year’s festival and also to the community to lend a hand,” Ian Lynch added.
He also feels that if local people helped out organisationally, it would be a big help.
“If everyone could give one hour for either fundraising or helping manage the events, it would lessen the burden on everyone and ensure that the event is as big a success as last year.
“Last year’s events gave an opportunity for families to come to Kilrush and enjoy the atmosphere and take part in the events for free. the ethos of the festival has been to organise and run events at a low cost and where possible for free. This means that everyone can take part and enjoy things without the financial burden.
“It is already planned that this year’s festival will start with a wheelbarrow race on Friday followed by a line-up of free open air musical entertainment. Saturday will include crab fishing and a treasure hunt in Cappa, plus a return of the karaoke competition and free music, including Bert and Victor from Ireland’s Got Talent.
The night will close with fireworks in Kilrush Marina. The Sunday will include activities for all ages and a defence forces display.
The next committee meeting will be held on Monday at 8pm in The Haven Arms and Ian Lynch is hopeful that anybody interested in helping out will attend.